Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Measuring and Mapping Patterns of Soil Erosion and Deposition Related to Soil Carbonate Concentrations Under Agricultural Management
Published on: September 12, 2017
Mountain grasslands as carbon sinks and energy hubs: a study of Western Carpathians in Slovakia
Miriam Kizeková1, Norbert Britaňák2, Jozef Čunderlík2
1National Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Plant Production, Grassland and Mountain Agriculture Institute, Mládežnícka 36, 974 21, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. miriam.kizekova@nppc.sk.
Abstract:
Mountain grasslands are unique ecosystems that provide many ecosystems' services. They are an important carbon pool and can also act as a source of bioenergy. The study focused on 4 grassland types (Lowland hay meadows, Mountain hay meadows, Wet grassland of sub-montane zones and Artificial grasslands) and 4 soil types (Fluvisols, Cambisols, Leptosols, Stagnosols) in 5 mountain ranges (Great Fatra Mts., Low Tatra Mts., Slovak Paradise Mts., Čergov Mts., Slánske Hills Mts.) of the Western Carpathians in Slovakia. The results showed that of the total carbon stock of the mountain ecosystems equal to 2.120 × 103 tons, 94% was stored in soil. The total carbon density followed this pattern: Fluvisols (100.64 ± 7.87 t/ha) > Stagnosols (84.17 ± 7.90 t/ha) > Leptosols (56.34 ± 6.20 t/ha) > Cambisols (55.43 ± 5.09 t/ha). Soil organic carbon density was also significantly affected by elevation, with the highest values between 600 and 900 m asl. (70.46 ± 4.23 t/ha). Grassland type significantly affected carbon density in living plant biomass, where Mountain hay meadows showed the significantly lowest values (P < 0.05) for carbon density in above-ground biomass (0.79 ± 0.05 t/ha) and below-ground biomass (2.24 ± 0.16 t/ha). The hierarchical clustering dendrogram revealed that the soils from the Low Tatra Mts. differed significantly from those of other mountain ranges and were characterized by high pH, very high soil organic carbon content, high levels of plant-available magnesium, and high C: N ratio in the soil. The calculated biomethane production ranged from 6,606 GJ in the Slovak Paradise Mts. for Lowland hay meadows, to 122,888 GJ in the Low Tatra Mts., which had the largest area of grassland habitats. The total theoretical energetic potential of biomethane production from all evaluated grassland habitats exceeded 1,139 GJ. The energetic potential values followed the following order: Slovak Paradise Mts. < Čergov Mts. < Slánske Hills Mts. < Great Fatra Mts. < Low Tatra Mts.
More Related Videos
10:16Design and Operation of a Continuous 13C and 15N Labeling Chamber for Uniform or Differential, Metabolic and Structural, Plant Isotope Labeling
Published on: January 16, 2014
10:19A CO2 Concentration Gradient Facility for Testing CO2 Enrichment and Soil Effects on Grassland Ecosystem Function
Published on: November 21, 2015
Related Concept Videos
The Carbon Cycle
C4 Pathway and CAM
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
Carbon-dioxide Fixation
The Soil Ecosystem
Energy Budgets
Sugars as Energy Storage Molecules